My New Little Tin

[Smokey Plainsman]

I have been on the hunt for a period tin for my shooting pouch so I can carry greased patches for hunting and a greased bit of rag for lubricating the gun and bore in the field. I found out that Ted Cash makes period correct pocket tinder boxes modeled after an original from the 18th century so ordered one from Track of the Wolf. It arrived today and I was very pleased with it. I decided to patina it using bleach and cold blue:

It looks more “brownish” in real life. I took these pictures during the evening when the lighting wasn’t as good. Here is the tin next to my rifle with a few items in it:

I bought this little tin for my future Kibler Southern Mountain rifle. If anyone is looking for a period tin these are very nice. Would work nicely if your rifle doesn’t have a grease hole or patch box. Thanks for letting me share my tin with you all.

-Smokey

 

[Mark Herman]

Ted makes nice products. A tin secrets box works well. Hammer down the lettering, propane torch to burn off the paint and you have the same thing.

 

[dave951]

Very nice. The finish in the pic reminds me of very tarnished silver patina

 

[BullRunBear]

I like that aged appearence. Nice job. It looks like it has seen a lot of years and campfires and could tell some good stories.

Jeff

 

[Rató:rats]

Really nice job on the finish. Did you get the German Silver case? I’ve got the same one in brass. It’s developed a nice patina but doesn’t look as good as yours.

 

[Notchy Bob]

Nice tin, Smokey! I think the iron version was a good choice. The brass ones are really nice, and won't rust, but I suspect the iron "tins" may have been lower cost and more popular on the frontier. You did a good job aging it.

Did you bleach first, or blue first? How did you "kill" the rust?

Notchy Bob

 

[hanshi]

That's a very nice tin! I have various "tins" made from tea/Sucrets/etc tin containers. They look more 2010 than 1810.

 

[Whitworth]

Well done, that looks great. I've been looking on EBAY for something similar. You just solved my problem, thanks.

 

[Chris Goerner]

I too would like to know more about the antiquing process you used. Can you walk us through it? That really looks great!

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

I bought this little tin for my future Kibler Southern Mountain rifle. If anyone is looking for a period tin these are very nice. Would work nicely if your rifle doesn’t have a grease hole or patch box. Thanks for letting me share my tin with you all.

-Smokey

Nice tin! I have one just like it. Who's name is on your rifle? Is is your's, a previous owner, or the maker?
Flintlocklar

 

[Dillon W.]

I have been on the hunt for a period tin for my shooting pouch so I can carry greased patches for hunting and a greased bit of rag for lubricating the gun and bore in the field. I found out that Ted Cash makes period correct pocket tinder boxes modeled after an original from the 18th century so ordered one from Track of the Wolf. It arrived today and I was very pleased with it. I decided to patina it using bleach and cold blue:

View attachment 31248

It looks more “brownish” in real life. I took these pictures during the evening when the lighting wasn’t as good. Here is the tin next to my rifle with a few items in it:

View attachment 31249

I bought this little tin for my future Kibler Southern Mountain rifle. If anyone is looking for a period tin these are very nice. Would work nicely if your rifle doesn’t have a grease hole or patch box. Thanks for letting me share my tin with you all.

-Smokey

White vinegar works too, boiling hot works really fast. And that looks fantastic! Very nice sir

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Thanks, friends!

It is an iron one and I first cold blue it, I used Brownell’s Oxpho-Blie but any cold blue would work. Then, it goes for a dunk in bleach for a few minutes. I card off the red rust and repeat the process a time or two and rinse under the faucet for a while, dry, and lube with beeswax. I enjoy the fact it is based on an original but it 100% authenticity isn’t important the same could be done with any small tin stripped of paint.

 

[Carbon 6]

I can't walk through a thrift store, antique shop or flea market without eyeballing every tin I can for one muzzleloading related use or another.

 

[Oldbear63]

If you use vinegar try fuming it. The vinegar fumes will often work much faster than the liquid and they create a deeper effect. The only issue is that you have to watch that it doesn't work too fast. In the liquid the acid concentration is about 5%, in the fumes it is more like 80% (chemists are welcome to correct me).

 

[Chris Goerner]

So, how exactly do you "fume" with vinegar? Do you heat the vinegar and hold the iron over the steam?

 

[Oldbear63]

Place your object (iron, brass, zinc) in a large container or bag suspended off the floor and not in contact with walls. Place a wadded newspaper or paper towel saturated with vinegar into the container and seal it. Check within one hour, over night may produce desired results on brass, iron may react quickly, with in an hour. When desired patina has been achieved wash thoroughly with water, clean and treat or oil as necessary.
Report back with results here.
Please do not shoot the writer!

 

[Tinhorn]

For nice little Patchbox tins to hold my wet patches, I use the Period Correct tins from the Rite-Aid Pharmacy Accessory Period. Very pretty, decorated or plain steel, with a small push-button clasp. I just plier out the pill divider in the bottom half, and use them. You can also paint the caliber on the top, so you throw the right one in your bag. Very pricey, at $4 per can. Okay, okay, I'm done! Tinhorn

 

[MO_E_W]

Oldbear63
I used your method of fuming with vinegar. Wow did it work great. Took a shiny new steel tin about four hours to look 100 years old. Then did a new Ted Cash brass tin 24 hours to look 100 years old. Thanks for the info sir.

MO_E

 

[toot]

I have used old metal cough drop tin's / metal boxes in the past for years. but now most all of them are switching to plastic!! the new metal!!.

 

[Jay Templin]

I've used percussion cap tins for years, but they always end up rusting shut and then I wreck them getting them open.
Jay